Ron Yates, the Hill Country winemaker behind his eponymous label, has quietly swung open the doors on a sprawling new tasting room at 6676 Hwy 290 W in Hye. The light-filled complex looks out over the winery’s 17-acre estate and layers in a central tasting bar, bookable private rooms, a wood-fired pizza kitchen, and an outdoor stage ready for live music. The label is christening the space on May 2 with a celebration that pairs a boxed-wine release with a concert.
What's inside the new tasting room
The new building totals roughly 8,800 square feet and sits on Ron Yates’s 17-acre parcel, with about 7,000 square feet of covered patio seating, a stage for live music, and a wood-fired pizza oven that feeds a full-service kitchen, according to CultureMap San Antonio. An earlier state filing described the project as an 8,786-square-foot tasting building, underscoring the multi-million-dollar scope of the work, MySA reports. Guests can belly up to the central bar for casual pours or book a private tasting that comes paired with small plates from the kitchen.
Opening night and the Get Together
Ron Yates is marking the official debut with a ticketed event called "The Get Together" on May 2 that features Austin electro-rock duo Ghostland Observatory and the launch of two new boxed wines. Tickets are listed at $60 and include tastings of the new Get Together red and white plus a commemorative glass. The winery's events page has the full ticket and event details. The winery notes that the boxed wines will be available to take home but may not be opened on the premises during the event.
Meet the winemaker
Yates fell in love with winemaking during a semester in Spain as a University of Texas undergrad, later worked at Spicewood Vineyards, and launched his own label in 2016, according to CultureMap San Antonio. "This new tasting room represents the next chapter for Ron Yates," he said in a release that accompanied the opening announcement. The winery's broader story leans on family ranching roots and a hands-on, Texas-first approach to the fruit used in its wines.
Where this fits on the wine trail
The new tasting room adds a larger, event-ready venue to the US-290 wine corridor just as other producers in Hye and nearby towns refresh or expand their public spaces. turning Hye’s tiny post office into a bubbly tasting room by William Chris for its Rebecca Caroline label is another example of how small-town Hye continues to attract investment and tourist attention along the wine trail. Together, these projects point to a Hill Country scene that is increasingly focused on bigger, more experiential tasting-room visits.
The new tasting room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are welcome when space permits. For reservations or ticket purchases for the May 2 event, visit the winery's reservation and events pages or call the tasting room directly. Ron Yates's Visit page lists current hours and reservation details.
